I had one of those “moments” last week. I was standing in the hallway of our home, and glanced up and caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror at the end of the hallway. I swear that for a second I thought I was looking at my father.
I had the same posture, my hand in my pocket was jingling my car keys, I was biting my lower lip as I was lost in thought – all idiosyncrasies that he possessed. The similarities in that moment were uncanny.
Sure, this wasn’t the first time I had noticed some similarities, but this time was more obvious than before. What struck me as odd was that, this time, my reaction was a bit different – and it surprised me.
It wasn’t a “Oh no! It’s true! I have become my father!” reaction. It was more of “Whoa! I look like Dad!”
And I was strangely cool with it. My dad was a great man. I miss him. I have no problem looking like him.
— and now a seemingly unrelated experience:
Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a temple wedding/sealing of a young man I have known for a decade. He was one of my young men in my ward, and one of my son’s best friends. Great kid – marrying an equally great girl. How can I tell? They glow.
Seriously, this young couple radiated such a spirit of goodness and purity that they shine. They were both so filled with joy that I thought they might explode.
It wasn’t just the wedding. This young man carries a sense of purity and goodness that just radiates from within. You can see it in his face, and feel it when you are with him. I covet it.
— and now a seemingly unrelated news article:
Earlier this year, a news article was making the rounds about a study where a psychology professor from Toronto wanted to see if people could really spot other Mormons just by looking at them.
The results? They could.
“Non-Mormons were able to identify Mormons 60 percent of the time, and the percentage of Mormons identifying Mormons was slightly higher. While the results are not fool proof, Rule concluded the results are statistically significant and higher than simple chance.”
They narrowed it down and decided that the determining factor was skin texture, due to observance of the Word of Wisdom. “After additional testing based on this supposition, Rule and his colleagues found that skin texture was the key indicator and determinant in distinguishing a Mormon from a non-Mormon.”
I would like to think it is something more than skin texture. Something less “physical.”
Alma asked the question, “And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” (Alma 5:14)
Genetically, I am 50% predisposed to inherit my dad’s appearance. But am I spiritually disposed to have the image of Christ in my countenance?
Elder James E. Faust addressed this question in his talk, “The Light in Their Eyes.”
“Alma asks if we have received His image in our countenances. A sacred light comes to our eyes and countenances when we have a personal bond with our loving Heavenly Father and His Son, our Savior and Redeemer. With this bond our faces will mirror that “sublime assurance” that He lives.”
Elder Faust goes on to explain that the light shining in our eyes and countenances comes from following the first four principals and ordinances of the gospel. He asks his own question, “What are we doing to keep the light shining in our own eyes and countenances? Much of that light comes from our discipline, dedication, and consecration…”
The idea of a visible spiritual countenance is a very real thing. Sadly the way we often recognize it is when it is no longer there. I have seem people “go dark.”
When Cain first fell into trouble, the Lord asked him point blank, “Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?” (Genesis 5:6)
The change is visible. It is often made more visible to those who hold the mantel or a stewardship that provides an enhancement of the gift of discernment. I’m sure that more than one of you has had a bishop approach you in the hallway and ask, “Hey, is everything OK?”
It is tragic when you our own spiritual lights go dim, or our countenance darkens, or when we see it in the face of someone we love. It is an warning sign that we need to be helped, or to reach out. Ironically, those who have the light in their eyes will be most likely to perceive when someone else’s countenance has fallen.
It can be a slow-fade, or a drastic change. Either way, it is very real, very tragic, and very reversible. The Holy Ghost restores it through repentance and the sacrament.
Our job? Non-stop participation in the cycle of faith-repentance-baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. Then continued discipleship through “discipline, dedication and consecration.”
I am to the point in life where it is fine with me if I am looking more like my dad. It would be even cooler if I were looking more like my Savior.
I have long felt that the simple beatitude has a more immediately applicable meaning:
I caught a glimpse of Him in the temple yesterday.
Perhaps I should live so that I can catch a glimpse of Him when I look in the mirror.
Wonderful post — equally wonderful comments! I, too, especially loved the final comments — “I caught a glimpse of Him in the temple yesterday…Perhaps I should live so that I can catch a glimpse of Him when I look in the mirror.”
I am in my 60’s and I have been looking more and more like my mother over the years. It didn’t help that people always said she was attractive. I felt like I needed to forgive her for many things and didn’t want to be told that. What a blessing in my life when I was able to let go and forgive her completely! I was able to remember all her good qualities. Now I look in the mirror and get a smile on my face. I wish I could hug her and tell her how much I love her.
1 Samuel 16:7- Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
I had a similar but more shocking experience like that. My mother died when I was 10 years old and she was 47. One day when I was about 47 years old myself, I was walking down town in Salt Lake City, window shopping. I kept walking and glancing in the windows as I went along. As I passed quickly by one window I suddenly stopped and thought to myself, ” There is a woman in that last store that looks very much like my mother.” so I went back to take another look. As I did so, I discovered it was a mirror in the window that I had noticed and my own reflection that had reminded me of my mother! I was shocked to realize that I hadn’t recognized myself with that quick glance, but saw my mother instead. I do hope my inside is a reflection of her as well, for she was a wonderful, talented, and loving person.
Another awesome post. I too have seen my mother looking back at me in the morning when I am in front of the mirror getting ready for my day. What a blessing. I miss her every day and those glimpses tell me she is near and aware of me. I am writing down the last 3 lines of this post. All of it was wonderful but it is always the last little bit that cinches it. Thanks again for sharing. It makes my life richer.
Beautiful! I’m copying to my journal. I want to keep it for a lesson or talk.
Oh man! You’re not supposed to make me get teary eyed while I’m eating my tuna fish sandwich. (Don’t you just love it when the Spirit helps you find the connecting threads in things you’ve noticed? And isn’t it delicious when the words play nicely together?)
What a nice reflection for me to reflect upon today. Thank you.
“I caught a glimpse of Him in the temple yesterday.
Perhaps I should live so that I can catch a glimpse of Him when I look in the mirror.”
Beautiful! Thanks for the Sunday morning thought.